M.S. Advising

The Economics Department has a faculty director for each graduate program and two staff advisors who administer the department’s graduate matters, which include admissions into the programs, satisfaction of degree requirements, financial aid awards, and curriculum. Our advising team works on a hybrid schedule. Contact them by email to arrange a virtual or in-person meeting.

Meenoo Kohli

• Title
  • Senior Graduate Programs Coordinator
• Phone
  • 831-459-2466
• Campus Email
  • mkohli1@ucsc.edu

Susan Burkhardt

• Title
  • Economics Graduate Programs Adviser
• Phone
  • 831-459-2219
• Campus Email
  • sjburkha@ucsc.edu

Jessie Q Li

• Title
  • Associate Professor
• Phone
  • 831-459-5397
• Campus Email
  • jeqli@ucsc.edu

M.S. registration and enrollment

New graduate student priority enrollment begins in June 2025. If you have issues registering or to learn more about how to enroll, view the Registrar’s website. Students with financial aid must be enrolled in at least five units by September 2025. For students without financial aid, enrollment in at least 5 units is required by October 2025. A $50 late fee will be charged for late registration. Check the Academic Calendar for more important enrollment dates. 

Comprehensive capstone requirement

Students must complete a capstone requirement to receive their degree. First, students choose an emphasis from among three tracks, based on their academic and professional interests. Students must declare their intended emphasis for the capstone before May 1 of their spring quarter and take four courses from their chosen track, as follows:

These courses prepare students for a comprehensive capstone examination, which will take place within two weeks of spring graduation. Students who do not pass the June examination may retake it at a date scheduled by the department. Further attempts at passing the comprehensive examination will be approved by the master’s committee on an appeal-only basis, with appeals only given for extraordinary or extenuating circumstances.

M.S. professional development

The Economics Department offers professional development services through the mandatory ECON 294B seminar series (weekly during winter and spring) and optional mock interviews. We also supplement these offerings with self-service resources. Find out more about career resources and opportunities on our Career Planning and Professional Development page. 

M.S. academic standing 

Registration for academic standing: To receive a master’s degree from UC Santa Cruz, students must register full-time for a minimum of three quarters at a UC campus, with at least two of the three quarters registered at UCSC. 

Academic progress, good standing policy, and academic probation: A student will be placed on academic notice if they fail any of the core (i.e., non-elective), 5-credit courses in the Economics Department’s M.S. program (ECON 200, ECON 202, ECON 216, ECON 233, and ECON 217 OR ECON 114). Students will be dismissed from the program if they fail core courses in consecutive quarters. Probation and dismissal can only be formally issued by the Graduate Division (under recommendation from the Economics Department). More details on these procedures and the student’s right to appeal such decisions can be found in the Graduate Division Handbook.

Graduation: By the end of the second week of instruction in the quarter you intend to graduate, you must file an Application for Master’s Degree form with the Division of Graduate Studies.

Graduate student resources

• Counseling and Psychological Services: CAPS provides a wide range of mental health services to students.
• Disability Resources Center: DRC provides a wide range of services and accommodations to help ensure that students with disabilities have equal access to education and all aspects of campus life.
• Slug Support Program: Provides emergency assistance with basic needs.
• Additional resources for students